NY AG: Janssen pays $181M over drug marketing

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman says Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. and parent company Johnson & Johnson have reached a $181 million settlement with 36 states and the District of Columbia over the marketing of anti-psychotic drugs for nonapproved uses.

Schneiderman says in a court filing that Janssen engaged in deceptive practices from 1998 to at least 2004 in the marketing of the drugs Risperdal, Risperdal Consta, Risperdal M-Tab and Invega.

Schneiderman said Thursday the company promoted “off-label” uses of the drugs not approved by federal regulators. For instance, Janssen is accused of promoting Risperdal, which is used to treat schizophrenia and other mental illnesses, for dementia in elderly patients.

Janssen did not admit wrongdoing. The New Jersey-based company said it wanted to avoid unnecessary expenses and a prolonged legal process.